What Is Your Cup of Cold Water?

Sermon delivered June 28, 2026 at Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church by Cindy Manning, Synod Authorized Minister and TEEM student.

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

What Is Your Cup of Cold Water?

The Gospel today comes from Matthew 10:40-42:

Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple — truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.

We realize that Jesus is talking about prophets and there are several mentioned in the Bible. I’m not going to discuss them today. When Jesus is talking about the righteous, he says we should live to be righteous because we have been saved by God, not what we want God to do for us. We as a congregation are righteous people or at least, we should be. But we should not boast in our righteousness. The thing in this gospel I want to discuss is for everyone. The thing that anyone can do. That is the cup of cold water.

I’m a seminary student in the TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) program through the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. I am currently serving as a Synod Authorized Minister here at Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church.

While at class this week the Reverend Dan Forehand, who is the Assistant to the Bishop for Emerging Ministers and Ministries with the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, shared a beautiful story in his sermon. It was a story about a long-time church member (that was very opinionated) who took this high energy little boy under her wing. Much to Pastor Dan’s surprise, she behaved totally opposite of what he expected. Rather than complain about the little boy, she demonstrated love and kind guidance that no doubt was shaping the little boy’s future. Teaching him the importance of love and kindness through the eyes of Jesus. The story pointed out how sometimes we develop opinions about people that are inaccurate.

In today’s Gospel, we hear the word, Reward. As Lutherans we get really concerned when we hear the word reward. Because in our faith we understand that we are saved by grace and we are not to do good deeds to earn our spot in heaven as that’s not how it works. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us: For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them. The key here is God has prepared our good work, and we are to WALK IN THEM. Grace itself is a reward as in eternal life. A reward that we didn’t have to earn. It is free but it is not without cost. Jesus paid the cost for us. Romans 6:23 says: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We might think “great!, I’m saved by grace so I can just sit back and do nothing.” Nope, we are not off the hook. We are expected to let the love of Jesus shine through our work. To share our grace with others. To let the holy spirit work in and through us.

Water was used in our baptisms when through the Grace of God, we became children of God. The expectation is that we will carry and live our baptismal sacrament throughout our lives.

As I said before, we should let the light of Jesus shine through our good works so that we can pass that love on to our neighbors, to all who need it. We are to welcome all people. In other words, we are to become disciples. But are we disciples? Are you a disciple? Am I a disciple? Let me share with you what I saw this week while attending class. I met my cohort for the first time, in person. What I saw were disciples all around me. I saw cups of cold water being passed out to others. For example, I saw and heard through conversation:

The Reverend Dr. Moses helping all of us students navigate through our registration, checking on us. Making sure our needs were met, that we had lunch every day and that we had time to share with each other, and had time to lift each other up.

Pastor Dan’s beautiful story, discussed above, reminded us not to judge others but to look for the good in others and to recognize the love others show even when we don’t expect it.

The Reverend Dr. Amy, our instructor, shared her knowledge and insights on how to use the Bible to analyze the scripture so that we make sure we use the Bible to interpret the Bible, sometimes going all the way back to the Greek version. She cautioned us about letting our opinions and emotions override the message the Bible is conveying to us.

Cat told us about her work with her “Ministry on the River” — how she’s had to call when someone died while on the water, to offer them comfort. How she ministers to the needs of the Mariners in person and even by phone if necessary.

Dee shared several things about how he is working within his ministry with marginalized communities. Sometimes the poorest of the poor.

Glen shared his work helping newly released prisoners, getting them gift cards for clothes, food, and directing them where to get help to ease their assimilation back into the community. He is a recovering addict himself and works with addicts to help them begin their journey of healing. He has also worked with the River Ministries.

Kathy told of how she did a combined worship and family outing with a group of Hispanic people. While the two groups spoke different languages, they found a way to worship together and share a meal together.

Jason gave me a ride this week to and from the hotel to class — countless times I heard him say how he just loves helping other people. Not because he wants anything in return. On the first day, I took the steps up to the building. I hadn’t had much sleep, my knee was acting up, so I was struggling. Jason must have noticed because the next day, without saying a word as we were walking and talking from his car to the building, he steered me toward the handicap ramp which was easier for me to navigate rather than climbing the steps.

I’m sure the rest of my cohort had many similar stories that I just didn’t hear about. In each one of these stories, I saw them living out their baptism, being loving and caring persons of strong faith. When we do these things, we are disciples of Christ. We’re taking that cup of cold water which is the LOVE OF JESUS and pouring it into the cup of others. Many times, into the cups of complete strangers. This is what discipleship looks like. We all need to remember even the smallest thing from us can be a huge thing for someone else. Treating others with love, respect, and dignity, regardless of who they are, regardless of their gender, race, or sexuality. When you do these little things, you are welcoming others into Jesus.

The last thing I want you to remember is that many times Jesus came down from the mountain and through each step he is walking with us, one step at a time. He shares our mountain top moments as well as our moments in the deep valley. Sometimes, he wants us to be in that deep valley, where we can welcome those that no one else wants to welcome. Remember today’s scripture: Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. Remember, while we are in the deep valley, we have him with us always. He will never stop loving and walking with us.

I ask you again: WHAT’S YOUR CUP OF COLD WATER?

Please continue to give those cups of cold water out and share God’s love. Even if the cup is rejected. Keep giving it anyway, keep trying. Try not to get discouraged. Also remember it’s okay to give yourself a cup of cold water too.

Amen.